Comments on: Two Blogs That Have Cost Me Money

By: Donna B.

Donna B. — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:46:52 +0000

Albion’s Seed is… well, fascinating. I’m a genealogy junkie and it’s been an indispensable aid in reconstructing how my long-ago ancestors might have lived, as well as enlightening about how they might have thought about the life they lived.

My goal is to write a book for my granddaughter tracing her family from their arrivals in NY and VA. I want to write about the history of the times and places as well as printing a tree.

I’m trying to interest her paternal grandparents in doing something similar. When her ancestors on both sides are taken into consideration, she’s an extremely “American” girl — English, Scots-Irish, Dutch, French, Native American, and 20th C immigrant.

By: retriever

retriever — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:16:58 +0000

Am just starting the Horse book, and you are the fifth person who has recommended Albion’s Seed to me, so that next.

By: Donna B.

Donna B. — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:58:44 +0000

Oh, I am really having trouble with Horse, Wheels and Language because I’m trying to read it at my Dad’s house which is like Grand Central Station. I may have to put it off until I’m back home where I can have more than 10 minutes uninterrupted!

By: Donna B.

Donna B. — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:47:28 +0000

Barzun’s book is just so jam-packed full of information that I found myself reading some paragraphs two or three times just to make sure I didn’t miss anything. I don’t mean that to sound like it’s difficult to read — it’s not. It’s that it’s interesting every time I read from it.

By: Assistant Village Idiot

Assistant Village Idiot — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:45:52 +0000

Agreed on all books mentioned, as Barzun’s and Fisher’s books are favorites of mine as well. I have heard of Anthony’s book but not read it. The reviews at Amazon give me some sense of what it is. I tend to the Colin Renfrew Anatolian origin for Indo-European, though I was taught a version of the Pontic Steppe origin when I was at school many years ago. Marija Gimbutas was all the rage then, and Anthony seems to have kept the saner parts of her theories.

By: razib

razib — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:33:27 +0000

*albion’s seed* is one of my favorite books. *from dawn to decadence* also.

By: Donna B.

Donna B. — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:48:46 +0000

Yes, I did find them. I’ve got The 10,000 Year Explosion (evolution), The Ascent of Money, and The Class of 1846 waiting for you.

Or, more correctly, waiting for me to mail them to you

Have you read The True Believer by Eric Hoffer?

I’d offer you Albion’s Seed, but I’m not sure I can let it and From Dawn to Decadence go at the same time! I’ll think on it.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:21:59 +0000

Did you ever find those books for me? You have very interesting (and good) taste in books. I can’t wait to see what you pick out for me next.